RPG-40

The RPG-40 is a blast anti-tank grenade, with a detonator fitted into a recess in the head of the grenade.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=435}} Its stabilized in flight by a cloth ribbon which unfolds after being thrown.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=435}}{{sfn|Rottman|2013|page=47}}

Upon contact, {{convert|760|g|lb}} of explosives contained within it were detonated and produced a blast effect. This enabled about {{convert|20|-|25|mm|in|abbr=on}} of armour to be penetrated and caused secondary damage, such as spalling, on contact with thicker armour.

Due to its heavy weight, the grenade could only be thrown at very short ranges, around {{convert|20-25|m|yd}} and behind protected positions, due to the blast and secondary fragmentation effect.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=60}} According to Jane's, the grenade had an effective fragmentation radius of {{convert|20|m|yd|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=435}}

It was also used against enemy defensive positions such as bunkers, machine gun nests, and pillboxes.{{sfn|Yelshin|1981|page=31}}

The RPG-40 was distributed to Red Army units in 1940, a year before the Great Patriotic War.{{sfn|Yelshin|1981|page=31}}

In July 1941, Main Artillery Directorate issued an order to begin mass production of these grenades as soon as possible. The production was organized by engineer S. Novikov.

It was effective against lightly armoured vehicles such as the Panzer I and Panzer II, but quickly became obsolete once the Germans started deploying heavier and better armoured tanks.{{sfn|McNab|2017|page=20}}

In March 1943, RPG-40 grenades were tested on a German Pz.Kpfw. VI "Tiger" heavy tank (which was captured by Red Army on the Volkhov Front). As a result, it was found that the RPG-40 can destroy the Tiger's tracked treads, but is no longer able to penetrate its thick side armor. After that, the RPG-40 was replaced by the RPG-43 and RPG-6, both designs used a shaped charge warhead to provide better penetration, but it remained in use as an anti-personnel (despite its short range) and anti-bunker weapon.{{sfn|Rottman|2015|page=60}}

In the post-war period, surplus grenades were supplied to Warsaw Pact countries. These were used by regular army units as late as 1960,{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|pages=29, 95, 139}} and remained in use with militia units as late as 1987.{{sfn|Hogg|1987|page=435}}

During the Vietnam War, the Soviets supplied North Vietnam with RPG-40, RPG-43, and RPG-6 anti-tank grenades.{{sfn|Embassy of Vietnam|1971|page=20}}

• {{flaglist|Albania|1946}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=29}}
• {{DDR}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=95}}
• {{flag|Poland|1928}}{{sfn|Department of the Army|1960|page=139}}
• {{flag|Soviet Union}}
• {{VIE}}{{sfn|Embassy of Vietnam|1971|page=20}}

• List of Russian weaponry
• No. 73 Grenade

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last1=Department of the Army |first1=United States |title=Handbook on the Satellite Armies |date=1960 |publisher=Headquarters, Department of the Army |location=Washington, DC |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eoc-FktJHr0C |access-date=18 September 2024 |language=en}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Embassy of Vietnam |first1=United States |title=The Soviet Role in North Viet-Nam's Offensive |journal=Vietnam Bulletin |date=20 April 1971 |volume=VII |issue=7 |pages=17−23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l29uAAAAMAAJ |access-date=18 September 2024 |publisher=Embassy of Viet-Nam. |language=en}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Hogg |editor1-first=Ian V |editor1-link=Ian V. Hogg |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons, 1987-88 |date=1987 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |isbn=978-0-7106-0843-7 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |title=German Soldier vs Soviet Soldier: Stalingrad 1942–43 |date=2017 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-2458-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxM2DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics |date=2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-0541-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbKdCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon L. |title=The Hand Grenade |date=2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-4728-0735-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3D-VCwAAQBAJ |language=en}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Yelshin |first1=Colonel N. |editor1-last=Kuchin |editor1-first=Valentin |title=Hand Grenades |journal=Soviet Military Review |date=October 1981 |issue=10 |pages=30−31 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWnfAAAAMAAJ |access-date=18 September 2024 |publisher=Krasnaya Zveda Publishing House. |location=Moscow |language=en}}

• [http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/sovgrenades/index.html Soviet Grenades at LoneSentry.com]

{{WWIIUSSRInfWeapons}}

Category:Hand grenades of the Soviet Union

Category:Anti-tank grenades

Category:World War II infantry weapons of the Soviet Union

Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1940